Michael Willmann
Michael Willmann | |
---|---|
Leubus, Holy Roman Empire | |
Nationality | Dutch |
Education | Jacob Adriaensz Backer |
Known for | Painting |
Notable work | The Martyrdom of the Apostles cycle |
Movement | Baroque |
Michael Leopold Lukas Willmann (27 September 1630 – 26 August 1706) was a German
Life
Willmann was born in Königsberg (Królewiec; today Kaliningrad), Duchy of Prussia a fief of Kingdom of Poland. He was educated by his father, the painter, Christian Peter Willmann. His family was impoverished Calvinist nobility. Michael went to the Dutch Republic in 1650 to learn from the masters, and he was inspired by the works of Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, and Anthony van Dyck. For financial reasons he was unable to afford studying at the studio of a well-known painter. He therefore studied on his own, often copying works of the artists he was inspired on. His early style was particularly influenced by the style of Rembrandt.[5] While he is often described as self-thought, he studied for a time under Jacob Adriaensz Backer.[6]
After two years in the Netherlands, mostly spent in
From 1657–58 Willmann was in Berlin as the court painter of Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg.[8][9] He painted mythological scenes for the elector, presumably for his residence at Königsberg Castle. In 1660 Willmann returned to Leubus, which allowed him a large workshop.[10]
Willmann's workship, modeled after those of the Dutch painters, quickly spread his fame. The extensive family studio included his son
Willmann became the leading painter of Silesia through his expressiveness, technical dexterity, and speed. Willmann worked on orders from the patriciate of Breslau, as well as churches and monasteries throughout Silesia, Bohemia and Moravia. He received contracts for the Cistercian monasteries in Grüssau, Heinrichau, Kamenz, Rauden, and Himmelwitz.[5] With the assistance of his students and assistants, Willmann produced 500 paintings and frescos during his life; about 300 or so have survived till modern day.[10] Most of his frescos were created after the 1680s.[5]
On 26 November 1662 Willmann married Helena Regina Lischka (Liška) from Prague.
Willmann died in
Post death
Willmann coffin was opened in 1738 and his remains were found to be well preserved.[14] His mummy was first photographed in 1901 or 1902.[14] The cyrpt Willmann was in was subject to looting in 1945 and his mummy was damaged between then and 1989.[14]
Works
Willman's style was inspired by artists such as Rembrant, Rubens, van Dyck and Pietro da Cortona. His distinctive style comes from background sketching technique and the adjustment of details. This style has been continued by his students.[5]
Painters influenced by Willmann include Wenzel Lorenz Reiner,[15] Petr Brandl, Johann Michael Rottmayr, and Franz Anton Maulbertsch.
Perhaps his most famous work is the series of paintings from The Martyrdom of the Apostles cycle.[5]
References
- ^ Kaczorowska, Katarzyna (2014-02-10). "Na tropach Michała Willmanna. Śląski Rembrandt przyprawia o wielkie emocje". Gazeta Wrocławska (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ISBN 978-1-4481-1408-5.
- ^ Kozieł, Andrzej (2000). "Wielkie przedsiębiorstwo czy mała rodzinna firma? Kilka hipotez na temat warsztatu Michaela Willmanna". Willmann i inni. Malarstwo, rysunek i grafiki na Śląsku i w krajach ościennych w XVII i XVIII wieku. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
- ISBN 978-94-017-6002-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Jagiełło, Jakub (March 2011). "Michael Willmann". Culture.pl. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
- ^ Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1974). Bulletin - The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Museum of Fine Arts. p. 3.
- ISBN 978-3-7701-2690-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-963-7441-44-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-87057-179-5.
- ^ a b c Maciejewska, Beata (9 March 2020). "Cenne obrazy wybitnego barokowego artysty cudem przetrwały zawieruchę wojenną. Po wojnie poupychano je po parafiach". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
- ^ Kozieł, Andrzej. Michael Willmann i jego malarska pracownia, Wrocław 2013 ("Acta Universitatis Wratislaviensis", 3463, Historia Sztuki, 33), cz. 1: Eseje.
- ISBN 978-3-901925-26-9.
- ISBN 978-83-88649-51-6.
- ^ ISSN 2453-9759.
- ^ Oldřich J. Blažíček (1968). Baroque Art in Bohemia. Artia. p. 116.
Further reading
- Colmar Grünhagen: Willmann, Michael Lucas Leopold . In: General German Biography (ADB). Volume 43, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig, 1898, p 301.
- Rüdiger Grimkowski: Michael Willmann. Barockmaler im Dienst der katholischen Konfessionalisierung. Der Grüssauer Josephszyklus. Berlin 2005, ISBN 978-3-89998-050-9.
- Dehio Manual of the monuments in Poland, Silesia, Munich · Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-422-03109-X.
- Hugo Weczerka (eds.): Handbook of historical sites Silesia . Stuttgart 1977.
- Joachim Bahlcke including: Handbook of historical sites Bohemia and Moravia, Kröner Verlag, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-520-32901-8
- Knaurs art guide Czech Republic, ISBN 3-426-26609-1.
- Hubertus Lossow : Michael Willmann 1630-1706 . Wurzburg, 1994, ISBN 3-87057-179-9.
- Herbert Meinhard Mühlpfordt : Michael Leopold Willmann, in: Konigsberg lives in Rococo. Significant contemporaries of Kant . Writings of JG Herder-winning country library, Volume 7, Siegen 1981, p 84–94.
- Ernst Kloss : Michael Willmann. Life and works of a German Baroque painter, Wroclaw 1934.
- Franz Wagner (Eds.): Michael Willmann (1630-1706), studies of his work . Concept: Rüdiger Klessmann and Bozena Steinborn, catalog for the exhibition in Salzburg and Wroclaw 1994.
- R. Albinus: Königsberg lexicon. Würzburg 2002.
- Detlev Arens: Prague - culture and history of the "Golden City", [1]
External links
- Biography at the Neue Staatsgalerie (in German)
- Andrzej Koziel, Rembrandt van Rijn and Michael Willmann, or a story of dispelling a certain myth, in: Rocznik Historii Sztuki, no 33 (2008), p. 153-176 [2]
- Michael Willmann at Europeana (gallery)
- Literature by and about Michael Willmann in the German National Library catalogue
- Selection of pictures (gallery)
- Biography at Staatsgalerie Stuttgart